I'm interested in getting rabbits ---- Edit: Just caught a dumped Bunny!!!

[Weeg]

Sure! Take all the time you need. We'll be here patiently waiting when you get the chance!

Enjoy her! They're wonderful!

They really are! I'm going to add hay to her littler box now as well, I have pine pellets in the bottom, is that good litter? Or should I have something else? Thanks everyone!

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I haven't, I'm open to name suggestions. She was living in a wood pile if that helps at all. Aspen maybe?
I'll get some in a moment, phone was charging.

I just named my 2 female piglets Aspen and Maple.

 

[Weeg]

I just named my 2 female piglets Aspen and Maple.

Beautiful! I love those names, hopefully Aspen sticks, I don't want to be calling her Bunny bun, Bun Bun, or Bunny Bumpkin for ever hahaha!

 

[Weeg]

She just popped back out to much on some hay, but she's not to into dogs yet, so Comet keeps scaring her. I'm gonna bring him inside for a bit. I noticed she was eating hay out of her litter box, is this okay? Should I put straw in the litter box instead?
I know that dogs don't poop were they eat or sleep, so want to make sure I'm not confusing her.

 

[EverythingDucks]

She just popped back out to much on some hay, but she's not to into dogs yet, so Comet keeps scaring her. I'm gonna bring him inside for a bit. I noticed she was eating hay out of her litter box, is this okay? Should I put straw in the litter box instead?
I know that dogs don't poop were they eat or sleep, so want to make sure I'm not confusing her.

Thats great!
Rabbits eat while pooping, so she's doing exactly what she's ment to do. Putting plenty of fresh hay in her litter box will encourage her to use it more.

 

[Weeg]

Thats great!
Rabbits eat while pooping, so she's doing exactly what she's ment to do. Putting plenty of fresh hay in her litter box will encourage her to use it more.

Awesome! Good to know. That sounds great! Thank you so much for your help!
Just watched a Lennon the Bunny meal plan video, and put together a meal plan including free choice hay, leafy greens, 1/4c pellets once daily, and a small amount of natural treats. I plan on feeding Aspen twice a day, and can't wait to spend more time with her. Pictures coming as soon as this sneaky bunny decides to come out. She refuses to come out long enough to get a photo.

 

[Weeg]

Next question, how do you prevent rabbits from going into shock if you house them outside? It wouldn't be to difficult to build a predator proof, 10 x10 enclosure with a warm safe hutch, but how do you prevent them from becoming scared to death my taunting predators, or predators trying to break into the hutch? I wouldn't be opposed to having "indoor" rabbits. I would setup the enclosure in the shop, and hope that eventually Aspen and her future friend can free range in the house, not sure what everyone else will think though.....

Also, we planned a weekend trip this weekend from Friday to Sunday, headed to a friends lake. Will Aspen be alright by herself? I read that they don't do well on their own, but I'm really not much company anyway since she's still pretty scared. Thoughts?

 

[EverythingDucks]

Next question, how do you prevent rabbits from going into shock if you house them outside? It wouldn't be to difficult to build a predator proof, 10 x10 enclosure with a warm safe hutch, but how do you prevent them from becoming scared to death my taunting predators, or predators trying to break into the hutch? I wouldn't be opposed to having "indoor" rabbits. I would setup the enclosure in the shop, and hope that eventually Aspen and her future friend can free range in the house, not sure what everyone else will think though.....

Also, we planned a weekend trip this weekend from Friday to Sunday, headed to a friends lake. Will Aspen be alright by herself? I read that they don't do well on their own, but I'm really not much company anyway since she's still pretty scared. Thoughts?

I would setup trail cams around the area you want to build the hutch to see what predators are around, and trapping or killing them would help.
I'm sure with having chickens you've discovered what other animals you have around though.

Being sure that the hutch is secure and sturdy will help, so even if something tried to break in the hutch would budge.
You could setup an electric fence around it so that predators wouldn't be able to even get close enough.

And in the run, you could put up some sort of panels so that if a predator was hanging around she wouldn't be able to see it.

There's not much else you can do, that I can think of anyways.
Just be sure she gets put up in the fully enclosed hutch part, and when she's in the run it would be best if someone could supervise, so that way there would be some activity around her too.


As for your trip, though she'll do fine without attention someone will definitely have to care for her while you're away to be sure she eats, and has plenty of fresh clean water, hay, veggies, and pellets.

 

[Weeg]

I would setup trail cams around the area you want to build the hutch to see what predators are around, and trapping or killing them would help.
I'm sure with having chickens you've discovered what other animals you have around though.

Being sure that the hutch is secure and sturdy will help, so even if something tried to break in the hutch would budge.
You could setup an electric fence around it so that predators wouldn't be able to even get close enough.

And in the run, you could put up some sort of panels so that if a predator was hanging around she wouldn't be able to see it.

There's not much else you can do, that I can think of anyways.
Just be sure she gets put up in the fully enclosed hutch part, and when she's in the run it would be best if someone could supervise, so that way there would be some activity around her too.


As for your trip, though she'll do fine without attention someone will definitely have to care for her while you're away to be sure she eats, and has plenty of fresh clean water, hay, veggies, and pellets.

Cool, I'll look into the possibilities of putting her outside, and also look at my options for keeping her inside. The garage is very large, but theres also quite a bit of commotion, so they'll have to get used to that. We'll see how it goes.
We have a long term renter who stays on our property and is able to ask care of all of our animals while were gone. She'll be able to keep her hay feeder full, water bowl, give leafy greens when she lets the chickens out and closes them up for the night, and 1/4 cup of pellets in the morning. We also have a security camera in the shop, so I can see what she's up to while were away.
Sounds like that will work out well then, thanks for the ideas!

 

[NatJ]

Next question, how do you prevent rabbits from going into shock if you house them outside? It wouldn't be to difficult to build a predator proof, 10 x10 enclosure with a warm safe hutch, but how do you prevent them from becoming scared to death my taunting predators, or predators trying to break into the hutch?

Make sure they are safe, and hope for the best.

Most rabbits do not die of shock when dogs run around their cage and make noise and even kill the rabbit in the next cage. (Yes, my family learned the hard way about predators and rabbit cages.)

And if this rabbit was already living loose for some amount of time, and hasn't yet died of shock, then I think the odds are good that she will continue to be fine.